Roseville — Historic Preservation

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Roseville Zoning Ordinance says about historic preservation, the Old Town Historic (HD) area, and review requirements for landmarks and significant buildings under the City’s zoning rules. It pulls only from Roseville’s municipal zoning material (Title 19 / Downtown Code references incorporated into Title 19) and points you to the exact controlling code citations so you can verify parcel‑specific obligations. For process steps like design review, zoning clearance, and demolition review, see the cited sections below and consult the Planning Division for parcel-specific decisions.

Key ordinance framework (high level)

• The City recognizes an Old Town Historic (HD) district intended to protect the original downtown core; parcels in the HD/CBD are governed by the adopted Downtown Specific Plan Downtown Code.
• The code maintains a published list of significant buildings (local landmarks) and sets special demolition/review rules for them.
• Many procedural items (Design Review, Zoning Clearance) are handled through administrative chapters; demolition of a significant building specifically requires Design Review approval in the manner set out in the design review chapter.

For quick reference, the ordinance material cited on this page comes from chapters incorporated into the Roseville Zoning/Planning title (Title 19 and the Downtown Code).

Old Town Historic (HD) District

Purpose

• The Old Town Historic (HD) district is explicitly intended to acknowledge and protect the historic and architectural significance of Roseville’s original commercial core and to ensure new development furthers rehabilitation, revitalization, and preservation objectives. § 19.12.010.

Typical permitted uses

• Permitted uses and use categories for properties inside the HD are set by the Downtown Specific Plan Downtown Code; the Zoning Ordinance refers applicants to that Downtown Code for permitted uses in the CBD and HD zones. § 19.12.020 and § 19.31.030.

Key dimensional and design standards

• Prescriptive development standards (setbacks, height, FAR, parking rules) for the Downtown Specific Plan area, including the HD, are contained in the Downtown Code; where conflict exists between Title 19 and the Downtown Code, the Downtown Code prevails within the Downtown Specific Plan area. § 19.31.010, § 19.31.030–040.

Where it applies

• The Downtown Specific Plan/Downtown Code applies to the Downtown Specific Plan area (about 176 acres including Old Town, Vernon Street, Royer and Saugstad Parks). § 19.31.020.

Practical guidance

• If your property is in the HD: always consult the Downtown Code design guidelines before preparing plans; inference or assumptions from the general commercial tables in Title 19 are insufficient for HD properties. § 19.12.020, § 19.31.030–040.

(See design review guidance below and consult the Downtown Code maintained by the Planning Division for the precise dimensional tables.)

Central Business (CBD) District (Downtown)

Purpose

• The CBD zone covers older downtown portions to allow a mix of business, service, residential and mixed‑use development compatible with downtown character. § 19.12.010.

Typical permitted uses

• Permitted/conditional uses in the CBD are governed by the Downtown Code; Title 19 refers applicants to the Downtown Code for permitted uses within CBD and HD. § 19.12.020, § 19.31.030.

Key dimensional standards and design controls

• Downtown Code prescribes prescriptive development standards and design guidelines specific to the Downtown Specific Plan area; for CBD parcels the Downtown Code’s development standards prevail where inconsistent with Title 19. § 19.31.010, § 19.31.040.

Where it applies

• Applies within the Downtown Specific Plan area; check the Downtown Code for parcel‑by‑parcel rules. § 19.31.020–030.

Overlay / Special Districts affecting historic resources (examples)

• The City uses overlay designations such as /DS (Development Standard) and /SA (Special Area) to modify development standards; the City can combine overlays with base districts to reflect site‑specific requirements. § 19.18.020–030.

Practical guidance

• An overlay may impose different development standards or specific historic design rules; always verify the zoning map notation (e.g., “/DS” or “/SA”) and the ordinance that adopted the overlay for the precise standards that apply. § 19.18.020(E).

What the code explicitly requires about historic buildings and demolition

• The code defines “significant building” and publishes a list of current significant buildings that are locally recognized; the list can be amended by application to the Planning Manager or by Council. § 19.61.020, § 19.61.030.
• No person shall demolish any significant building without first obtaining approval of a Design Review Permit or Design Review Permit modification as set forth in the design review chapter, unless an exemption applies. § 19.61.040.
• The Zoning Clearance process must be used where required before building permits are issued; Zoning Clearance rules include special notes and exemptions for certain downtown historic building designations and reference the potential application of the State Historic Building Code at the Building Official’s election. § 19.72.020.

Decision‑relevant table (quick at‑a‑glance)

Practical process & interpretation (plain guidance)

• If the property is in HD or CBD, treat the Downtown Code as primary: obtain the Downtown Code design guidelines and coordinate early with the Planning Division. § 19.31.030–040.
• If the structure is on the significant buildings list, do not plan demolition until you have a Design Review Permit approval (the Design Review process can include findings and public notification). § 19.61.030–040.
• Expect to need a Zoning Clearance before building permits; the Planning Division issues zoning clearance and will flag whether the Downtown Code, historic designation, or design review applies. § 19.72.020.

Linking to related subjects you will almost always touch during a historic project: consult the City's pages on development standards, design review, overlay districts, parking, signage, and ADUs. If work triggers structural or life‑safety upgrades, coordinate with the California Building Standards Code.

Checklist

• Confirm whether the property is listed as a significant building (local list in code) § 19.61.030.
• If demolition or substantial exterior alteration is proposed, apply for a Design Review Permit (or modification) as required for significant buildings § 19.61.040; coordinate with the Design Committee/Planning Commission as needed § 19.70.040.
• For properties in HD or CBD, obtain and follow the Downtown Specific Plan Downtown Code design guidelines before submitting plans § 19.31.030–040.
• Obtain Zoning Clearance prior to building permit issuance when required and disclose historic/resource status to the Planning Division § 19.72.020.
• Check for overlay(s) (for example /DS, /SA) that modify development standards or permitted uses § 19.18.020–030.
• Verify whether the State Historical Building Code or other specialized standards may apply and whether any exemptions are available § 19.72.020.
• Verify any ADU or other special housing limitations that might apply on historic parcels directly with Planning (code references to ADUs/second units appear elsewhere in Title 19; verify applicability). Not found in retrieved materials with an explicit § citation for ADU historic exceptions.

Risks & Ambiguities

Information Gaps

• The specific text of the Design Review chapter (Chapter 19.76) and the exact findings and submittal checklist for a Design Review Permit are referenced but were not provided in the retrieved files; see § 19.61.040 for the demolition trigger and the design review cross‑reference.
• Precise, parcel‑level Downtown Code tables for setbacks, height, FAR, and parking are referenced but the full Downtown Code tables are not reproduced here; the Downtown Code is adopted by reference in § 19.31.030 and available from the Planning Division.
• Exact ADU/second‑unit historic‑district restrictions are referenced in cross‑notes elsewhere in Title 19 but a discrete, clearly numbered section tying ADU prohibition to historic district status with a single § citation was not unambiguously present in the retrieved snippets; confirm with Planning.

Plain‑English Summary

If your property is in Roseville’s Old Town or downtown core, the Downtown Code controls what you can do—especially for historic buildings. The City keeps a local list of significant buildings and you cannot demolish a listed building without a Design Review Permit; always get zoning clearance first and coordinate with Planning early to learn which Downtown Code design rules, overlays, or district listings apply to your parcel. § 19.61.030–040, § 19.31.030–040, § 19.72.020.

Source References

• Roseville Municipal Code — Old Town Historic district purpose and referral to Downtown Code § 19.12.010, § 19.12.020.
• Roseville Municipal Code — Downtown Specific Plan Downtown Code adoption and precedence § 19.31.010–050.
• Roseville Municipal Code — Historic resources: definitions and local list of significant buildings § 19.61.020, § 19.61.030.
• Roseville Municipal Code — Demolition of significant buildings (Design Review required) § 19.61.040.
• Roseville Municipal Code — Zoning Clearance requirements and Downtown historic exemptions § 19.72.020.
• Roseville Municipal Code — Overlay districts (Development Standard / Special Area) § 19.18.010–030.
• Roseville Municipal Code — Administration: Planning Manager, Planning Commission, Design Committee duties § 19.70.020–040.

Retrieved passages

• Roseville Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Roseville Zoning Code (§ 19.61.020.) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 19.72.020 (§ 19.72.020.) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 1 (Title 17) Medium relevance show source text
• Roseville Zoning Code (title and) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 1 (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Roseville Zoning Code (Article IV.) Medium relevance show source text
• Roseville Zoning Code (Chapter 19.12.) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Roseville Municipal Code — Old Town Historic district purpose and referral to Downtown Code **§ 19.12.010**, **§ 19.12.020**. (§ 19.12.010)
• Roseville Municipal Code — Downtown Specific Plan Downtown Code adoption and precedence **§ 19.31.010–050**. (§ 19.31.010)
• Roseville Municipal Code — Historic resources: definitions and local list of significant buildings **§ 19.61.020**, **§ 19.61.030**. (§ 19.61.020)
• Roseville Municipal Code — Demolition of significant buildings (Design Review required) **§ 19.61.040**. (§ 19.61.040)
• Roseville Municipal Code — Zoning Clearance requirements and Downtown historic exemptions **§ 19.72.020**. (§ 19.72.020)
• Roseville Municipal Code — Overlay districts (Development Standard / Special Area) **§ 19.18.010–030**. (§ 19.18.010)
• Roseville Municipal Code — Administration: Planning Manager, Planning Commission, Design Committee duties **§ 19.70.020–040**. (§ 19.70.020)
• Roseville_ZoningCode.md

• Official Roseville code library